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The Giralda of Seville
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THE GIRALDA OF SEVILLE
The Giralda of Seville is the belltower of the magnificent Cathedral of Seville. The evolution of the belltower from Minaret of a Muslim Mosque to Belltower of a Christian Cathedral and the construction of the Cathedral is an interesting story which is related here.
The computer plans for the model were obtained from Pedro Lopez Rodriguez, Seville, Spain, who has drawn the plans with total fidelity to the original monument, respecting all measurements, heights and widths, and every possible detail, including the balconies and the decorations around them.
THE GIRALDA OF SEVILLE IS THE BELLTOWER OF THE MAGNIFICENT CATHEDRAL OF SEVILLE
The lower section of the Giralda was built by the Muslims from 1184 sto 1196, as the minaret of the old Almohad Mosque of the city of Seville. It comprised four external and four internal walls between which was a spiralling sloping ramp from the ground to the terrace which made it possible for the sultan and the muezzins to ride their horses to the tower terrace from where they chanted their daily prayers.
In 1198 four big spheres of polished copper were added to the top, and the sunlight reflected by the spheres made the city visible from many miles away.
At a height of 82 meters the Giralda was then, and for some time, the highest tower in the world and certainly one of the most beautiful in the Muslim world.
In 1248 the Christian King Ferdinando III re-conquered Seville from the Moors, and the mosque was adapted as a Christian church, so the Almohad Mosque became the Cathedral of Seville.
In 1386 an earthquake destroyed the copper spheres and in 1482 they were replaced by a belfry.
The mosque was demolished in 1433 to build a proper Christian Cathedral, at which time a member of the Chapter commented: "We shall have a Cathedral so great and of such a kind that those who see it built will think we are mad.
And indeed they did. The new Cathedral was 115m x 75m and the ceiling of the central nave reached a staggering 13 stories high, whilst the four side chapels are so large that a normal size chuch could be built in each of them. Construction took just over 100 years and fortunately the Giralda escaped this demolition.
However, the belfry, which replaced the copper spheres, was demolished and a magnificent new bell tower topped with a large bronze wind vane (representing Christian Faith) was added, and these gave the tower its
present aspect of 98.5 meters.
The name "Giralda" comes from the giros (turns) that the wind produces in the wind vane.
The Cathedral is lavishly decorated with large quantities of gold, and there is a gothic retablo of 45 carved scenes of the life of Christ - the lifetime work of just one man, Piere Dancart. Understandably, this is the masterpiece of the Cathedral and the largest and richest alterpiece in the world, as well as one of the finest examples of gothic woodcarving anywhere in the world. There is a large collection of religious jewellery items, paintings and sculptures, and also the tombs of Christopher Columbus and King Ferdinand III
The builders re-used some columns and elements from the Almohad mosque, and most famously the Giralda, originally the Mosque's minaret was converted into a bell tower. Topped with a statue representing "Faith". the Giralda is the city's most famous symbol. It is to the people of Seville and Spain what the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House have become to the people of Sydney and Australia.
Around the four sides of the upper part of the bell tower there is a latin inscription "IN NOMEN DNI ..... TURRIS ..... FORTISSIMA ..... PROVERB 18", which translated means "The name of God is a strong tower.
The model is constructed with Jacararanda and Mackay cedar and finished with clear satin estapol.
Designer: Pedro Lopez Rodriguez, Seville, Spain
Dimensions:
Year Built: 2008
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